03-11-2015
An organic product is environmentally sound if there is local and seasonal. To give them the scope and lower costs arose distribution and consumer cooperatives baskets directly by producers.
For some time
more people pointed
to the consumption of
biological products. Understood biological production without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. But a product is organic does not mean it is organic. If we buy apples biological, but it is coming from Chile's environmental impact will be great. Although their culture have respected all the rules of organic farming, due to cross half the world until our table have consumed much fossil fuel. In addition, many of the nutritional properties should be degraded by the long travel time. Some businesses import from anywhere in the world to offer a wide variety regardless of the time of year. Therefore, to ensure a truly
organic product
must be organic, local and seasonal.
Another important issue is the price. Biological products have additional costs because they do not have the distribution channels that are not conventional products therefore move large volumes.
Moreover, if a
producer wants to certify that their product is
organic must pay a fee used to cover the costs of inspection and control. This leads to the paradox that the farmer is required to pay does not pollute, while those that make
conventional agriculture are exempt. Exactly
the opposite
of the environmental principle "polluter pays".
To reduce costs and ensure quality and closeness arose social initiatives of various kinds who chose to eliminate intermediaries. Examples
of consumer cooperatives baskets or biological seasonal products distributed directly
by producers at home or collection points.
The
consumer cooperatives are consumer associations organized for joint purchasing.
In Barcelona there are about 55-60. Usually the partners are divided into committees that handle all the tasks necessary for its operation, contact with suppliers, product distribution, accounting, maintenance of the premises, etc. Decisions are made in a meeting.
The purchasing criteria are not only environmentally friendly, it also
takes into
account the confidence and knowledge of producers, local, fair trade for the products impossible to find in our latitudes such as coffee, sugar, chocolate. ..
The reasons associated with a consumer cooperative are as diverse as the people involved. It could highlight
want to have
a healthier diet, free of GMOs, encourage local production, greater respect for the environment and production conditions do not exploit workers.
The ways in which vegetables and fruits arrive cooperatives may be varied in bulk and members take turns preparing orders for baskets or other enclosed with seasonal producers who produce are the most common. This second option is also more common when it comes to fresh fish.
For three years
there is a mixed cooperative work and consumption Sants (Social Economy). It differs from other consumer cooperatives that are
working partners who are responsible for suppliers, preparation of orders, accounting, maintenance, etc.
Consumers and members do not need to devote time to these routine tasks. The former members formed other consumer cooperatives who had to leave because of lack of time and thought that the same could happen to other people there. This system seems to enjoy success and perhaps extended to other initiatives.
